If you ask any motorcyclist about the most important part of a bike, the majority will likely answer, “the brakes.” Brakes are essential to any motor vehicle and especially to motorcyclists who are so vulnerable to injury in the event of a crash. Having to suddenly brake can be dangerous for motorcyclists, however, as there is the chance they may lose grip with the road and slide or skid out, which often results in a serious crash. In response to this issue, many motorcycle manufacturers have been trying to improve brake systems, such as by installing anti-lock brakes that help to improve grip during a sudden braking situation.
Unfortunately, with more safety features also comes the possibility for more motorcycle parts to malfunction due to defects. Recently, reports indicated1 that motorcycles made by Harley Davidson between 2008 and 2011 may have defects with their anti-lock braking systems that cause the brakes to fail with no warning to the rider. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)2 has received the following reports regarding this brake failure:
- Several almost-crashes that were nearly missed due to brake failure
- Three motorcycle crashes due to brake failure
- Two injured motorcyclists due to crashes
NHTSA has launched an investigation into the potentially defective brakes and, if it determines there is a widespread safety problem, the agency will likely recommend a recall that will likely affect 430,000. In the meantime, anyone with a model of Harley Davidson built in the affected years should be very careful when riding and aware of the possible brake failure.
If you have been in a Michigan motorcycle accident because you brake suddenly malfunctioned and failed, you have legal rights to recover financially for all of your losses. If you are able to prove that the manufacturer was negligent in selling a defective part, you can seek compensation from that company for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more depending on the severity of your injuries.
Call a Michigan Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Help Today
If your motorcycle accident occurred because your brakes failed or because another driver was at fault, please do not hesitate to call the office Michigan Injury Lawyers. We have helped many motor vehicle accident victims across the state recover for their injuries and losses from the responsible parties. We offer free consultations and never collect any fees unless you obtain compensation, so please call us for more information at 313-GET-HELP today.
References:
1 http://fortune.com/2016/07/08/harley-davidson-brake-investigation/
2 http://www.nhtsa.gov/